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Live Like You Were Dying

Good
people are gone too soon, that’s what they always say. And they’re probably
right. Perhaps it’s true, well, it’s true most of the time; good people are
gone too soon. Lately I’ve been thinking about death. No, not my own, but
people around me. People whom I used to know, or people whom I didn’t get to
know. Thinking how and why I didn’t have the chance to know them better, yet it
feels fascinating to be able to learn something from the memories of them. And
some days ago, an unfortunate event happened. Someone passed away. Someone whom
I only knew for a short time, yet she was so kind to me, a warm and lovely
woman. The thing is, people will never know when death is coming. And not all
of them can say goodbye properly. That’s just they way life is. Like a mid
summer night’s dream, she just passed away like that. This post is dedicated
for you, Ma’am, rest in peace. And may the living can keep growing strong.

“And I
loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, and I gave forgiveness I’ve been
denying. And he said, someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were
dying.” –Tim McGraw, Live Like
You Were Dying

For
my beloved Ma’am, today’s song is titled “Live Like You Were Dying”, performed
by American country singer, Tim McGraw. The song was released on June 7th 2004
as the first single and title track from his eighth studio album of the same name.
I first recognized this song when a fictional a cappella group, Tone Hangers,
performed it during the riff-off scene on 2015 musical comedy film, “Pitch
Perfect2”. The country song was written by Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman.

"Live Like You Were Dying" single cover - source: en.wikipedia.org

Though
Tim McGraw didn’t write the song himself, he particularly agreed to sing this
song because it was lyrically associated with his father, Tug McGraw, who was
hospitalized with a brain tumor and cancer before he died ten months later. It tells
the story of a man in his early forties who gets the news that his father has
an unspecified, life-threatening illness. His father’s message is to live life
to the fullest and do things that he had always wanted to do. “He said I was in my early 40s with a lot of
life before me, and a moment came that stopped me on a dime. I spent most of
the next days looking at the x-rays, talking ‘bout the options and talking
‘bout sweet time. Asked him when it sank in, that this might really be the real
end, how’s it hit you, when you get that kind of news, man what you do, and he
says,” if only people knew that they were going to die soon, they might do
what they always wanted the most. If only.

People
who have been touched by the death always have some different perspectives
about life. And whenever they touch other people, the perspectives are
spreading too. Have you ever read Mitch Albom’s “Tuesdays with Morrie”? Well,
you gotta read if you haven’t. Like Tim McGraw, Mitch Albom is a person who had
been touched by people who had been touched by death. And it’s fascinating to
see their point of view towards life. “He
said I was finally the husband, that most the time I wasn’t, and I became
a friend a friend would like to have. And all the sudden going
fishing, wasn’t such an imposition, and I went three times that year I
lost my dad. Well I finally read the good book and I took a good long hard look
at what I’d do, if I could do it all again, and then,” realizing that death
can come in anytime subconsciously makes people appreciate and cherish their
life more than before.

The
life of the departed ended when they were died. But someone’s death can be a
beginning of someone else’s life. There’s nothing more precious human left
behind in this world than their memories; meanings, that can give lessons
toward other people around them. People whom they used to know. People whom
they didn’t get the chance to know. People who only hear about their stories. My
late Grandpa always told me to take the chance, to do what I want, to be brave,
to keep growing strong. “I went sky
diving, I went rocky mountain climbing, I went 2.7 seconds on a bull
name Fumanchu. And I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, and I gave
forgiveness I’ve been denying. And he said, someday I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.” And as I’m getting older I understand, every
time we have in this life is a gift. Make the best out of it is the greatest
way to be grateful. The deceased are already gone and done with this life, but
the living are continue living. “Like
tomorrow was a gift, and you’ve got eternity to think about what you do with
it, what could you do with it, what can I do with with it, what would I do with
it.”

Tim McGraw in "Live Like You Were Dying" music video

“Live
Like You Were Dying” gained a commercial success, by reaching number one on the
US Billboard country music
charts and holding that position for a total of seven weeks. It was also named
as the Number One country song of 2004 by Billboard. Hearing this song somehow gives me strength, to live
like I were dying, to keep on living while growing strong. And once again, may
the departed people rest in peace.

“Like
tomorrow was a gift, and you’ve got eternity to think about what you do with
it, what could you do with it, what can I do with with it, what would I do with
it.” –Tim McGraw, Live Like You
Were Dying

“He
said I was in my early 40s with a lot of life before me, and a moment came that
stopped me on a dime

I
spent most of the next days looking at the x-rays, talking ‘bout the options
and talking ‘bout sweet time

Asked
him when it sank in, that this might really be the real end

How’s
it hit you, when you get that kind of news, man what you do, and he says

I
went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing, I went 2.7 seconds
on a bull name Fumanchu

And
I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, and I gave forgiveness I’ve been
denying

And
he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying

He
said I was finally the husband, that most the time I wasn’t, and I became
a friend a friend would like to have

And
all the sudden going fishing, wasn’t such an imposition, and I went three
times that year I lost my dad

Well
I finally read the good book and I took a good long hard look at what I’d do

If
I could do it all again, and then

Like
tomorrow was a gift and you’ve got eternity to think about what you do with it

What
could you do with it, what can I do with with it, what would I do with it

Sky
diving, I went rocky mountain climbing, I went 2.7 seconds on a bull
name Fumanchu

And
I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, and I watched an eagle as it was
flying

And
he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying